Ever has it been that fame, glory, happiness came as rewards, not to
those who strive to capture, but to those who strive to free others from
their troubles, burdens and problems.
12.
I am often asked: "Are you happy ALL the time?" My answer is no.
[Sidenote: Continuous Happiness Impossible.]
A continuous state of happiness cannot be enjoyed by any human. There
are no plans, no habits, no methods of living that will insure unbroken
happiness. Happiness means periods or marking posts in our journey along
life's road. These high points of bliss are enjoyed because we have to
walk through the low places between times.
Continuous sunshine, continuous warm weather, continuous rest,
continuous travel, continuous anything spells monotony. We must have
variety.
We need the night to make us enjoy the day, winter to make us enjoy
summer, clouds to make us enjoy sunshine, sorrow to make us enjoy
happiness.
But, dear reader, mark this: We can be philosophical, and have content,
serenity and poise between the happiness periods.
When you get blue, or have dread or sorrow, or possess that
indescribable something that makes you feel badly; when you have worry
or trouble, then's the time to get hold of your thinking machinery and
dispel the shadows that cross your path.
Occupation and focusing your thoughts on your blessings--these are the
methods to employ.
As long as you dwell upon your imagined or your real sorrows, you will
be miserable and the worries will magnify like gathering clouds in
April.
[Sidenote: Think Happiness.]
Change your thoughts to confidence, faith, and good cheer, and busy your
hands with work. Think of the happiness periods you have had, and know
that there are further happiness dividends coming to you. Keep this sort
of thought, and with it, useful occupation, and the sunshine will dispel
your gloomy forebodings and sorrow thoughts like the sun dispels the
April showers, bringing about a more beautiful day because of the clouds
and storms just passed.
When trouble or sorrows come, sweeten your cup with sugar remembrances
of joys that have been and joys you are to have.
Envy no one; envy breeds worry. The person you would envy has his
sorrows and shadows, too. You see him only when the sunlight is on the
face; you don't see him when he is in shadowland.
[Sidenote: Brace Up, Cheer Up.]
No, dear ones, I, nor you, nor anyone on earth can have complete,
unruffled, continued happiness, but we can brace up and call our reserve
will-power, reason, and self-confidence into action when we come to the
marshy places along the road. We can pick our steps and get through the
mire, and sooner than we believe it possible, we can get on the good
solid ground; and as we travel, happiness will often come as a reward
for our poise and patience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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